Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.

The only way to experience truth is to look within, to observe oneself.

Mindfulness is the key to the present moment. Without it we cannot see the world clearly, and we cannot make the wisest choices in our lives.

The difference between being caught in thoughts and being mindful of thoughts is like the difference between being in a movie and watching a movie.

The movement of love is what creates the beauty in our lives.

Life is glorious, but life is also wretched. It is both. Appreciating the gloriousness inspires us, encourages us, cheers us up, gives us a bigger perspective, energizes us. We feel connected. But if that's all that's happening, we get arrogant and start to look down on others, and there is a sense of making ourselves a big deal and being really serious about it, wanting it to be like that forever. The gloriousness becomes tinged by craving and addiction. On the other hand, wretchedness--life's painful aspect--softens us up considerably. Knowing pain is a very important ingredient of being there for another person.

In true vipassana practice, there is no room for likes and dislikes. There is only observation.

The mind is everything. What you think, you become.

Not by hatred is hatred conquered, but by love alone. This is an eternal law.

Without darkness, there is no light. Without the path, there is no arrival.

The object of meditation and the mind which knows it must be noted as they occur. If they are not noted, desire arises and disturbs concentration.

The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.

The essence of mind is empty like space; yet it contains all things, like a mirror.

The more you understand impermanence, the more you appreciate every moment.

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

Those who grasp at things as truly existent are like someone trying to catch the reflection of the moon in water.

Awareness is always with us. We don't need to create it or achieve it - we just need to recognize what's already there.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.

The experience of emptiness engenders compassion.

Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.

The basic teaching of Buddhism is the teaching of transiency, or change.

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.

If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?

The way to change others' minds is with affection, and not anger.

To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things.

Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what's happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what's happening.

The truth of Zen is the truth of life, and life means to live, to move, to act, not merely to reflect.

Things derive their being and nature by mutual dependence and are nothing in themselves.

Whatever precious jewel there is in the heavenly worlds, there is nothing comparable to one who is awakened.

Meditation is the road to happiness.

The true path is not difficult; just avoid picking and choosing.

Emptiness which is conceptually liable to be mistaken for sheer nothingness is in fact the reservoir of infinite possibilities.